Question

Describe helical viruses.

Answer 1

Viruses:

1. A virus is an infectious agent which comprises a part of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat.
2. The nucleic acid could be DNA or RNA.

Helical viruses:

1. In a helical virus, the viral nucleic acid is in the shape of a helix.
2. The capsid proteins wind within or outside the nucleic acid.
3. The nucleic acid along with the capsid makes the nucleocapsid.
4. They have a long tube or rod-like structure.